Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern agree to a merger

This creates the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

Union Pacific has announced plans to merge with Norfolk Southern, creating the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

Both systems are major transporters of U.S. ag goods. The two announced they will combine forces, creating a system worth $250 billion. Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition says there could be some concern around consolidation, but he adds that rail lines are crucial to the success of farmers and U.S. agriculture as a whole.

An investor call was announced this morning for stakeholders.

Related Stories
USDA data indicates that 13.7 percent of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2024, the highest rate since 2014, even as most households remained food secure.
Weather, Tight Supplies, and Planning Shape Farm Decisions
Bigger cows must wean proportionally heavier calves to justify higher ownership costs.
Improving consumer confidence supports baseline food and fuel demand, but cautious spending limits upside potential for ag markets in 2026.
Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tight feeder supplies and lower placements indicate continued support for the cattle market, with regional impacts heightened in Texas by reduced feeder imports.
National Land Realty’s Jeramy Stephens shares his outlook on farmland market trends, which remain under close watch as new federal assistance programs roll out — with experts analyzing potential impacts on land values, buying, and stability.
Michelle Perez shares more about the American Farmland Trust’s resource to help farmers and producers plan soil health improvements.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer outlines the key difference between previous ECAP payments and the Farm Bridge Assistance Program.
Jeff Johnston with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange explains the growing role of Rural America in supporting the nation’s digital infrastructure.